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Migration and Home Affairs
  • 1 April 2025

Employed worker in Germany

Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to work as an employed worker in Germany? You can find information below on the conditions to fulfil and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.

Conditions

To work as an employee in Germany, you must first obtain a visa to enter Germany.

You do not need a visa if you are from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or the USA.

Once in Germany, you must obtain a residence permit allowing you to work.

Procedures

Where and how to apply

Visa

You must first apply for a visa at the embassy or consulate in your country of origin. The visa may only be granted if the local Foreigners Authority of the place of intended residence consents. The rules of the Residence Act governing the issue of residence permits are applicable.

Residence permit

Once in Germany, you must apply for a residence permit for the purpose of employment. The residence permit is granted by your local Foreigners Authority.

The Public Employment Service (in German) must consent to the granting of a residence permit for the purpose of employment. It may do so if your recruitment does not cause any negative impact on the labour market and if there is no qualified German or EU/EEA citizen or a non-EU citizen regarded as equivalent and available to fill the position.

The Public Employment Service will also verify that you have been offered adequate wages and work conditions.

Documents requiredYou must provide a valid passport, health insurance and sufficient financial resources. You must also prove accommodation.
Duration of validity of permitsResidence permits for the purpose of employment are in principle granted for one year and are renewable.
Appeals

Decisions related to residence permits can be challenged before the local administrative courts.

Decisions related to visa refusals can be examined by the administrative court in Berlin. The local court is only competent if you are already in Germany.

Further information

More on residence permits

More on work permits

More on visas

More on accessing the labour market

More on working in Germany

Rights

UnemploymentIf you lose your job, your residence permit may be revoked if you no longer have sufficient means of subsistence. As long as you are entitled to unemployment insurance, you can stay in Germany for the remaining period of validity of your residence permit, unless otherwise stated.
Change of employmentIf your residence permit is tied to a specific employer or to a specific position you need permission to change jobs from the Foreigners Authority who has to ask the Public Employment Service for its consent where appropriate.
Change of statusYou may become self-employed if the required permits have been issued or if it is certain that they will be issued and after permission from the Foreigners Authority has been granted.
Permanent residenceGerman law makes a distinction between a settlement permit and the EU long-term residence permit.
Settlement permit

To obtain a settlement permit, you must prove the following:

  • residence for at least five years on the German territory with permit;
  • sufficient resources to support yourself and your dependants;
  • health insurance;
  • adequate housing/accommodation;
  • in general, 60 months social security contributions (or equivalent contribution to a private scheme);
  • you have the right to work or to be self-employed;
  • sufficient knowledge of the German language and basic civic knowledge.

The above terms will be less for foreign nationals who graduated from a German university. They may apply for a settlement permit, if they have held a residence permit as migrant worker for two years and have contributed to the pension fund for at least 24 months.

Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security.

More on settlement permits

EU long-term residence

To obtain an EU long-term resident status, you must provide the following:

  • residence on the German territory for five years with a residence title;
  • stable, regular and sufficient financial means;
  • adequate housing/accommodation;
  • sufficient knowledge of the German language, basic civic knowledge;
  • fulfilment of tax obligations.

Your application may be rejected if you threaten public policy or public security.